title: Domestic violence prior to and during pregnancy among Pakistani women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Abuse of women has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Data about abuse from developing countries are scarce, especially from Muslim societies. Our objective was to investigate domestic violence before and during pregnancy among women in an urban area of Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  An urban community in Hyderabad, Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thousand three hundred and twenty-four pregnant women at 20-26 weeks gestation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Socio-demographic and reproductive history data were obtained through structured interviews. We used a modified World Health Organization screening instrument to assess women's experience of domestic violence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical, sexual, and verbal abuse and demographic characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of women had received some schooling and in most households the husbands were employed; by Pakistani standards, they were middle class. Young maternal age, having an unemployed husband and one with other wives/partners, and having had a prior pregnancy were significant predictors of abuse. In the six months prior to and/or during pregnancy, 51% reported experiencing verbal, physical or sexual abuse. Twenty percent reported physical or sexual abuse alone. Sixteen percent of women considered suicide as a response to the abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Domestic violence is common among urban Pakistani women of reproductive age, suggesting a need for universal screening during antenatal care, and for support and referral. Further research is needed to determine factors that place women at greatest risk, and to assess the impact of domestic violence on pregnancy outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rozina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karmaliani
authors.forename: Farhana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Irfan
authors.forename: Carla M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bann
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Omrana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pasha
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Goldenberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult